Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Light-bellied Brent Goose (East Canadian High Arctic population) Branta bernicla hrota AEWA Technical Series No. 11 June 2006 Prepared with the financial support of National Parks & Wildlife Service (Dublin), Environment & Heritage Service (Belfast), and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Compiled by: James A. Robinson1,2 and Kendrew Colhoun1 1 The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Slimbridge, Glos. GL2 7BT, UK. Email: [email protected] 2 Current address: RSPB Northern Ireland, Belvoir Forest Park, Belfast, BT8 4QT, UK. E-mail: [email protected] With contributions from: Ken Abraham, Dave Allen, Stuart Bearhop, Hugh Boyd, Sean Boyd, Bob Brown, Kathy Dickson, Bart Ebbinge, Ian Enlander, Gudmundur Gudmundsson, Jim Hines, Richard Inger, John McCullough, Graham McElwaine, Kerry Mackie, Paddy Mackie, Mark Mallory, Oscar Merne, Ian Montgomery, James Orr, Bruce Pollard, Alex Portig, Austin Reed, Tony Richardson, David Thompson, Matthew Tickner, Lynne Tinkler and Hugh Thurgate. Milestones in the production of the Plan Workshop: 30 September-3 October 2003, WWT Castle Espie, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland First draft: February 2004, presented to experts Second draft: May 2004, presented to experts Third draft: April 2005, presented to the Range States and the AEWA Technical Committee Final draft: July 2005, approved by the AEWA 3rd Meeting of Parties in October 2005 Geographical scope This International Single Species Action Plan requires implementation in the following countries regularly supporting East Canadian High Arctic Light-bellied Brent Geese: Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, the UK, France and Spain. Reviews This International Single Species Action Plan should be reviewed and updated every ten years (first review 2015). An emergency review will be undertaken if there are sudden major changes liable to affect the population. Credits Thanks go to Bert Lenten, Sergey Dereliev and Yuki Itakura (UNEP/AEWA Secretariat) and Lorraine Robinson who provided support during the preparation of this International Single Species Action Plan. Recommended citation: Robinson, J.A. & Colhoun, K. (Compilers). 2006. International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Light-bellied Brent Goose (East Canadian High Arctic population) Branta bernicla hrota. AEWA Technical Series No. 11. Bonn, Germany. Picture on the cover: © Daniel Bergmann / www.danielbergmann.com Drawing on the inner cover: © Pavel Prochazka AEWA Technical Series No. 11 CONTENTS Foreword by H.E. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Evironment, Heritage and Local Government, Republic of Ireland............................................................................................... 5 Foreword by H.E. David Cairns MP, Minister for the Evironment, Northern Ireland........................ 6 Foreword by Mr. Bert Lenten, Executive Secretary, Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird (AEWA) ............................................................................... 7 Foreword by Mr. Martin Spray, Chief Executive, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)................. 8 Preface ................................................................................................................................................. 9 Executive summary ............................................................................................................................. 10 1. Biological assessment..................................................................................................................... 11 2. Available key knowledge................................................................................................................ 16 3. Threats .............................................................................................................................................. 17 3.1. Description of threats................................................................................................................ 17 3.2. Relative importance of threats throughout the range................................................................ 21 4. Policies and legislation relevant for management............................................................................ 24 4.1. International conservation and legal status of the species....................................................... 24 4.2. Member States/Contracting Parties obligations....................................................................... 24 4.3. National policies, legislation and ongoing activities................................................................ 24 4.4. Site (and habitat) protection and research................................................................................ 24 4.5. Recent conservation measures.................................................................................................. 25 5. Framework for action...................................................................................................................... 27 5.1. Goal .......................................................................................................................................... 27 5 2 Purpose ..................................................................................................................................... 28 6. Activities by Range States............................................................................................................... 35 6.1. Canada ...................................................................................................................................... 35 6.2. Greenland ................................................................................................................................. 36 6.3. Iceland ...................................................................................................................................... 37 6.4. Ireland ...................................................................................................................................... 38 6.5. United Kingdom....................................................................................................................... 40 6.6. France ....................................................................................................................................... 42 6.7. Spain ......................................................................................................................................... 43 7. Implementation ................................................................................................................................ 44 7.1. International ECHA Light-bellied Brent Goose Working Group............................................ 44 7.2. Country actions........................................................................................................................ 44 8. Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 48 9. Annexes .......................................................................................................................................... 51 International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Light-bellied Brent Goose 3 AEWA Technical Series No. 11 Foreword by H.E. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for the Evironment, Heritage and Local Government, Republic of Ireland Ireland is of special significance for the population of the Light-bellied Brent Goose covered by this International Species Action Plan. Most of the population concerned winters here. There is a considerable history of research, survey and conservation work on the Light-bellied Brent Goose in Ireland. This work has also demonstrated the value of working on issues in partnership and on an all-island basis. Apart from regular surveys, the species has been the subject of an intensive marking study, and more recently of satellite-tracking research, all aimed at identifying migration routes, timing of migration and use of staging areas. Such information is clearly important to underpin conservation, but may also prove vital for less obvious reasons - as for example in dealing with the current situation on avian influenza. As with many other species and habitats, our own conservation work has been complemented and strengthened by EU inspired measures. Most of the more important sites in Ireland are now Special Protected Areas and thereby included in the EU network of biodiversity areas. Clearly species such as the Brent Goose - whose range takes in Canada, Greenland and Iceland – need action at a broader scale. This International Species Action Plan - and indeed its parent, the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds – provide the mechanisms to stimulate the required international co-operation and bring about on the ground implementation. This AEWA Species Action Plan is a testimony not only to co-operation between countries, but also to collaboration between many organisations and dedicated individuals. The Brent Goose is increasingly visible and familiar to many people in Ireland – having become quite tolerant of humans, and occurring in large numbers at coastal areas used by large numbers of people, including around our capital city. Few who come into contact with this wild bird of the coast fail to enjoy